This time, Bryant obtains grand slam baseball
Soler activated from disabled list; Rizzo gets well-deserved day off
CHICAGO -- Kris Bryant wasn't able to get the ball from his first grand slam on June 17, which came off Indians outfielder-turned-pitcher David Murphy in the ninth inning of the Cubs' 17-0 win. The fan who retrieved that ball apparently wanted too much in exchange.
But Bryant had the grand slam ball in a case from Saturday night's game. This one was hit off the Marlins' Jarred Cosart in the second inning, and was his second homer of the game. No disrespect to Murphy, but is the second slam more legit since it came off a big league pitcher?
"It was a little more meaningful," Bryant said of Saturday's blast, which helped the Cubs beat the Marlins, 7-2. "That other game, what was it, 17-0? We didn't need the runs there. Any hit counts to me, I don't care who you hit it off of."
Said Cubs manager Joe Maddon: "At the end of his career, they all count."
Extra bases
• Jorge Soler, sidelined since June 3 with a sprained left ankle, was activated from the disabled list on Sunday and outfielder Matt Szczur was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Soler, who was 2-for-13 in four rehab games with Iowa, was batting .288 in 28 games in May before he was injured. Maddon inserted Soler into the lineup Sunday in right field.
"[His presence] really lengthens out the lineup," Maddon said Sunday. "You get all the guys cooking, it makes a difference."
• Plunked 17 times this season, Anthony Rizzo leads the Major Leagues in getting hit by a pitch. The first baseman got Sunday off to nurse his bruises and take care of the "ball-peening" he's had, Maddon said, referring to a ball-peen hammer.
"It's incredible -- I know he's [standing] on the plate, and I know they want to pitch him inside -- it's part of who he is as a hitter and the fact that he doesn't wear any armor," Maddon said. "I think he's a little beat up, and I thought this was a good day to do it."
• Tsuyoshi Wada, on the disabled list since June 23 with inflammation in his left deltoid, will make a rehab start on Monday for Double-A Tennessee. Wada had to come out of his last start June 22 after two innings because of cramping in his left shoulder.